Multiple shuttle loom with electrical control devices



MULTIPLE SHUTTLE LOOM WITH ELECTRICAL CONTROL mavxcss Filed Nov. 15', 1950 J. STUER April 14, 1953 6*- Sheets-Sheet l April 14, 1953 J. STUER 2,634,765

MULTlPLE SHUTTLE LOOM WITH ELECTRICAL CONTROL DEVICES Filed Nov. 15, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. STUER 2,634,765

MULTIPLE SHUTTLE LOOM WITH ELECTRICAL CONTROL DEVICES April 14, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 File-3. Nov. 15, 1950 April 14, 195.3 J. STUER 2,634,765

MULTIPLE SHUTTLE LO-OM WITH ELECTRICAL CONTROL DEVICES Filed Nov. 15, 1950 '6 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 14, 1953 J. STUER 2,634,765

MULTIPLE SHUTTLE LOOM WITH ELECTRICAL CONTROL DEVICES Filed Nov. 15, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 3.9 41 32 38 L 5 I|/I/I/I/E S Bung April 14, 1953 J. STUER 2,534,765

MULTIPLE SHUTTLE LOOM WITH ELECTRICAL CONTROL DEVICES Filed Nov. 15, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 6 F g- 1/ H Patented Apr. 14, 1953 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLE SHUTTLE LOOM WITH ELEC- TRICAL CONTROL DEVICES- 11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to what are known as automatic shuttle shifting and bobbin transfer looms such as include, besides the frame, a lay which beats up and carries a hunter, which at the proper time, engages a transfer hammer mechanism or assembly pivoted'to the frame and having arms at about a right angle to each other, one carrying a pivoted contact dog and the other arm having a head in position to engage a full bobbin from a magazine which is fixed to the frame.

As part of such a magazine'are bobbin supporting, guideways for full bobbins, there being also, at the bottom ofthe magazine, giveways. which direct a full bobbin to a. position where it can be engaged by the head of the transfer hammer and forced down into a shuttle in a shuttle'box carried by the lay at the end of its race, to replace an almost empty bobbin therein.

There are also automatic bobbin replacing looms in which there is a magazine on one side under which is a single box and on the other side, a shifting shuttle box with a number of cells each containing or most containing its own shuttle with a bobbin carrying a particular color or kind of thread.

My devices are particularly adapted for this type of loom but some or all parts might be used in other types of bobbin replenishing looms.

In a loom with a single cell or shuttle box under the magazine, each shuttle goes from the box side to the magazine side and forward on one pick, then back with the lay, then to the box side, forward on that side on the next pick, then back with the lay and then back to the magazine side. In other words, each shuttle goes forward on two picks, one on the magazine and one on the box side of the loom unless the boxes shift.

With this type of loom there is a bobbin filling feeler in position at the front on the magazine side which, when it feels that the filling on any particular bobbin is getting nearly exhausted startsfthe devices for replacing that bobbin by another full bobbin of the same color and kind. These bobbins of different colors and kinds are in stacks in vertical guideways in a stationary magazine. Pivoted to the frame at the bottomof each of these guideways, is what is known as a cradle which can be turned so as to receive a bobbin'and again turned to discharge it.

The usual method of moving these cradles is by means of slides, one for each stack of bobbins in a g-uideway and each having an upper and a lower nose between which moves a finger on what is known as a color indication shaft such I I replace all of the so-called chopper mechanismrby electric devices and connections. operable" by a transferfeeler solenoid and I replace the mechanism, which withRyon is connected with. the rock shaft-'25 and other devices for setting the transfer hammer dog in position to be engaged by a. hunter on the lay, by electric devices which. are somewhat similar as far as the transfer hammer is concerned to those shown in my previous Patent No. 2,418,324 of April 1,

This invention is applied to .a well known type of fancy stationary magazine loom having such well known parts as harnesses, reeds, warp controlling means and lay operating devices together with pickersand other known devices .and

with very slight changes can be converted from or adapted to other types of looms which are known as pick and pick.

This device is an improvement on the device shown in my applicationfor United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 74,638, filed February 4,

1949, now Patent No. 2,576,244 of November 27, 1951, and embodies some features shown and described therein and inmy United States Letters Patent of April 1, 1947, No. 2,418,324, with various modifications whereby in a stationary magazine loom having a magazine including a plurality of stacks of bobbins under which. or in association with which is a transfer hammer for forcinga new full bobbin from giveways down intoa shuttle, the-filling on the bobbin in which is nearly exhausted and wherein there is a single shuttle box or cell under the magazine, while on the otheror opposite side of the loom is a vertically movable shuttle box or drop box of a well known type, having a plurality of cells each of which is adapted to contain a shuttle with a-bobbin of a. particular kind or color.

This shifting shuttle box or drop box is controlled by color indication devices in a head motion of well known character, operating through a-color indication shaft to moye acr'adle under each stack operated by a slide in such a 6 way that at a predetermined time, a full bobbin 2,418,101 of March 25, 1947, instead of the usual sequence of operation as shown in the well known. patent to Ryon, No. 1,030,748, of June 25,1912. In the Ryon device, on indication from a weft feeler, the cradle is turned to receivea bobbin,

tom, front and top center while the appropriate shuttle is on the off side of the loom but if the box shifts, the contact key is moved away from the contact pin of the feeler switch and as the transfer circuit is broken, no bobbin is dropped into the giveways and the dog is not set until that shuttle or another shuttle, the key for which has also been set, comes up to the race.

,If more than one key is set, whichever-"key is in contact with the contact pin completes the transfer circuit and as the slide which operates 'the appropriate stack and the corresponding the multiple key or pole selective transfer cirafter which the bobbin drops into the giveways and is then transferred. In'other words, each cradle at the bottom of each stack, does not a normally hold a full bobbin but in my Patent No. 2,418,101 each cradle normally does hold a full bobbin. The cradle receives a bobbin after transfer.

I also use, for the operation of setting a dog in a transfer assembly, themethod of pulling a pin to release a spring pressed dog so that it will be set or in positionto be engaged by a bunter on the lay at a predetermined time, namely the second pick after indication or it can be held in its cradle, if the drop box changes before transfer, until a particular shuttle, the filling on the bobbin of which is nearly exhausted, comes back in line with the shuttle race on the lay.

A particular feature is that instead of having two shafts, such as a color indication and an auxiliary or secondary shaft, such for instance as. shown in my above mentioned application for patent, I provide a multiple key feeler switch which. may have four or more or less keys carried by a color indication shaft which also carries one or more, preferably two, slide operating fingers, one of which at the right time engages a slide having a singlenose which slide is spring pressed so that when pushed down by a finger, the bobbin is dropped from the cradle'into the giveways and when the pressure of the finger is released, the slide lifts, turning the cradle so as to receive a new full bobbin as shown in my Patent No. 2,418,101 of March 25, 1947, after transfer, so that normally, there is a full bobbin in each cradle between transfers.

In a feeler circuit, Iinterpose a filling feeler, preferably at the front on the magazine side," with a feeler solenoid, which, on indication;

moves and sets the appropriate key of a multiple-.55

key feeler switch in a transfer circuit in a p sition to engage a single contact pin in such transfer circuit as the color indication shaft is moved axially.

In such transfer circuit however isa timing switch and when a key of the feeler switch is in contact with such a contact pin so the feeler switchis closed, when and if the timing switch in the transfer circuit is also closed, the current of that circuit energizes a solenoid which pulls adog pin, thus releasing the dog'to start for the path of the bumper on the lay and also turning the color indication shaft to carry a finger against a nose slide and to drop a full bobbin cuit switch must both be so timed that the right key of the switch and the timing switch must both be closed to start transfer by dropping a.

magazine and transfer is accomplished between bottom and front center.

There is therefore an interval of about one pick to allow the full bobbin to drop from its cradle and settle into the giveways. I

For clearness and convenience, I will call a pick the interval between front centre when the filling is just beaten up and the next beat up. Generally the picker and shuttle moves while the lay is travelling between top, back and bottom centre while the drop boxes are moving between bottom, front and top centre.

When the feeler indicates exhaustion, the fill- I ing feeler circuit is closed through a filling feeler solenoid which turns one of the keys of the multiple. key switch of the transfer circuit so that it is set or in a position to engage a single contact pin which forms part of such switch. As there normally is a full bobbin in the cradle of the particular stack of bobbins such as are until and unless the timing switch, which is also in the transfer circuit, is closed. If the shuttle box is shifted and there is another depleted bobbin' in a second shuttle, the key which is first set is moved away from the contact pin and another key corresponding with the second shuttle is, set by the filling feeler solenoid.

For convenience in explaining the timing, we use the clock formula with 6 oclock meaning bottom, 9 oclock meaning front, 12 oclock top and 3 oclock back centre. The drop box or shuttle shifting box moves vertically between 6 or 9 oclock and 12 or 1 oclock and may come to rest between 11 and 1 oclock. The'shuttle moves across the loom between 12 and 6 oclock and the lay moves forward between 3 and 9 oclock, transfer being complete at about 9 oclock.

As shown, the color indication shaft has two ball grooves extending lengthwise and parallel to receivea spring pressed holding ball located in each key. When the filling feeler solenoid turns a particular key, its ball is pulled or slid out of what I will call the normal groove into the setting groove. This holds that key in position to engage a contact pin if and when that key is opposite to it.

There are four keys spaced as shown in the drawings, each normally held up by a spring ball :latchout ofcontact with the single contact pin in the shuttle, nothing happens to the cradle on the frame, and as shown, there are two transfer fingers fixed to the color indication shaft to engage a nose and to depress a slide, thus dropping a bobbin out of the cradle controlled by that slide, the timing being such as described herein, the slides, keys and fingers being synchronized with a solenoid positioned above the contact pin and operative in a feeler circuit so that it will move the key which is opposite the contact pin down in contact therewith while at the same time one of the slide moving fingers is in position to engage a corresponding slide, but the finger does not move because the color indication shaft does not turn until the circuit through the appropriate key and the stationary pin and also through a timing switch makes a complete transfer circuit through a dog pin pulling solenoid, which also turns the shaft and releases the dog as described.

The appropriate key being in engagement with the stationary pin is forced back from the setting groove into the normal groove by this motion of the color indication shaft, while the color indication shaft is turned back by a link connection operative as the lay moves forward against the dog, accomplishing transfer and this turning back of the color indication shaft releases the slide and its spring returns it to the normal position also turning a cradle to receive a new full bobbin from the same stack as the transferred bobbin.

The motion of the dog is at a time near the end of the first pick or near the beginning of the second pick and turns the color indication shaft. and as there is a finger on that shaft opposite to and above the slide for the right cradle to drop the right full bobbin into the giveways, this finger engaging the nose, moves that slide so that it turns its cradle and starts the fresh bobbin down towards the giveways. Preferably however, the timing is such that while the dog may start towards its position or to be set, it will either strike under the bunter or pass it as the bunter is going back, with the result that while the bobbin starts dropping on the first pick, the actual transfer does not take place until the same shuttle moves forward with the lay on the magazine side of the loom on the next pick. Actual transfer occurs on this pick between bottom and front center or between six and nine oclook.

The shuttle box shifts between near bottom, through front to near top centre usually between eight and eleven o'clock so that at an interval shortly before eleven oclock and at or after that point, referring to the drop box side of the loom, the right key indicating the shuttle with a bobbin to be transferred is engaging or has engaged the stationary pin contact and the timing switch on every second pick closes just after eleven oclock or a short time before so that the dog control member, including a pin pulled by a dog pin solenoid through the transfer circuit, turns the color indication shaft with the finger which will engage the nose of and depress the right slide, thus dropping the right bobbin from the cradle into the giveways. This starts to set the dog so that as the lay comes forward between bottom and front centre or between six o'clock and nine oclock, the transfer isaccomplished on the magazine side of the loom.

With a feeler at the front on the magazine side, on transfer, it is necessary that the feeler should be pulled away from the depleted bobbin so that the new full bobbin can take its .place without 6-. breaking the feeler. This is accomplished by any well known mechanism indicated by J.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic front elevation of a loom with the parts of my device shown or indicated.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic elevational view as from the inner side of such a loom, showing a magazine, giveways, lay, transfer and dog, color indication shaft with connections to the color indication, but omitting the color indication itself and the magazine slides which are shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3A is a diagrammatic side elevation, similar to Fig. 2, indicating the magazine, giveways, transfer hammer, dog, bunter, lay and bobbins.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the color indicationishaft with the keys and parts of the multiple pole transfer switch and Fig. 5 is an elevational view including also the feeler solenoid.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevational view as from the left on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4, with the parts in one position, and Fig. 8 is a similar view with the parts in another position, while Figs. '7 and 9 are elevations showing the manner in which a cradle is operated by a slide.

Fig. 10 is an elevational view of a color indication shaft of my preferred construction, and Fig. 11 is an elevational view of a key such as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, partly broken away to show its inner construction and that .of the color indication shaft. r

Fig. 11A is an elevational view, as from-the left in Fig. 2 with the rocker arm raised;

Fig. 12, Fig. 13, Fig. 14, Fig. :15 and Fig.16are plan views, similar to Fig. 4 showing the electrical wiring and the various positions of the keys and slide fingers with reference'to-the cradle slides as the color indication shaft is moved into diiferent positions axially.

Fig. 17 is a plan view showing the contact pin with its relation to a key, as the color indication shaft is moved axially.

Figs. 18 and 19 are elevational views, similar multiple contact pole transfer circuit switch in the transfer circuit.

Fig. 21 is a diagrammatic view of the transfer electric circuit with its connections to the multi ple contact pole switch and the preferred type of timing switch.

Fig. 22 is an elevational View of such timing switch, and Fig. 23 is a detail showing its elec-' trical contacts.

Fig. 2f shows an alternative form of timing switch. Fig. 25 shows a modified form of contact key.

Fig. 26 is a view similar to Fig. 18 of an alterna- V tive form of connection'between the transfer'dog, the transfer hammer and other parts. I

In the drawings, for convenient identification,

the following letters are used todescribe" the major parts of the device as units, the details of which are indicated by numbers.

The whole loom which' is of the well known Crompton & Knowles type is indicated by Ewi'th' a shifting shuttle box with cells on one side and a stationary magazine indicated by M on the other side. A single shuttle box or cell is used under the magazine and as shown, at the front on that side is a filling feeler switch F of the electrically operable type.

Each of the slides which turn a cradle is indicated by S and the operating nose on this slide is indicated by N.

The color indication mechanism as a whole is indicated by I and the shaft by C.

The lay U of the usual construction is pivoted to the frame E as indicated at 20I, Fig. 3A. The connection between the color indication I and the color indication shaft C, is shown in Fig. 2, as a chain indicated by IIOA, there being also preferably a protecting spring IIIlB attached to one end of arm II I of the bell crank lever H, pivoted at I09, there being also a returning spring IIO between the end of this arm I I I and the frame E of the loom, Figs. 2 and 5.

There is also an arm II3 which extends between two flanges I I4 and I I5 on the color indication shaft C, whereby the shaft C can be moved axially in the usual way in suitable bearings I50 and I5I. The fingers 6, 6, fixed to shaft C each has an arm I6, which passes through suitable bearings such as II! at one side and I? at the other side, Figs. 2 and 11A.

Arm I8 of a rocking lever R is pivoted on shaft C with one end carrying a bearing I'I.through which an arm I6 of a finger 6 is slidable and at its other end is pivoted to a link L, the other end of which is pivoted to dog carrier 35 as shown in Figs. 2, 4, 5, 11A. 18 and 19.

An arm I52 'is freely pivoted at I99 and by means of a connecting link H9 connects to an arm, not shown, similar to I8 which through bearing II'I turns with shaft C when it is turned'by link L during transfer. This arm operates a well known device connected with the giveways 9, but is not shown.

When the color indication shaft C and these members I6, I'I, I8, 1, are turned, if there is any unusual resistance, the protecting spring Ii0B takes it up. The spring H0 is weaker than I IOB as its purpose is to turn the bell crank lever H so as to move the color indication shaft C to the right or theposition shown in Fig. 15, while chain IIIIA positions the keys K and fingers 6, 6, correctly with reference to the shuttle boxes.

Inthis construction there is a selective key or pole transfer switch B which includes a fixed pin contact P and a plurality of keys K carried by the color indication shaft C in such a way that each key K corresponds, usually in the reverse order, withone of the stacks and slides S in the'magazine M. The fixed contact pin P, part of the multiple key or pole selective transfer switch is stationary, but the keys K are carried by the color indication shaft C and when the feeler F, aswitch, indicates near exhaustion, the feeler solenoid 20 will move that key which is in front of the pin P from its normal position to a position where it will engage such pin in a resilient manner. This multiple key or pole switch B associated with the color indication shaft is a very important part of my device as it does away entirely with an extra shaft.

1 accomplish my purpose by having two lengthwise grooves in the color indication shaft indicated by 2| and 22, which are engageable by a latch ball 23 spring pressed by a spring 24 in each key. When the feeler circuit solenoid moves the appropriate key, this ball slips fromthe normal groove 2| into the abnormal or set groove 22 in which position this key will engage the fixed pin P or will slide over it if and when the color indication shaft is moved axially, Figs. 6, 8, 10, 11.

In Fig. 7 is shown in full lines the position of the cradle pin and slide together with the cradle in the normal position Where the cradle supports a stack of bobbins and in dotted lines the position it assumes when turned by the slide, thereby dropping the bobbin.

The keys K and the slide operating slide fingers 6, 6, on the color indication shaft move with it axially and turn with it, the fingers 6, 6 being fixed thereto, while the keys K are so spaced with reference to the grooves in the shaft 0 that when the shaft is turned, to cause a finger to engage a nose on a slide, the corresponding key being stopped by the pin P is forced back into its normal groove ZI. This is shown in Figs. 6 and 8.

The transfer mechanism i similar to that shown in my United States Letters Patent No.

2,418,101 of March 25, 1947, and includes a transfer hammer T, having two arms substantially at a right angle to each other, one 30 carrying a head 3| and the other carrying dog controlling means G and a dog D pivoted thereon in the exact manner which will be described.

There is a link L which is a connecting member between the dog D and the color indication shaft C. A indicates the make and break timing switch which, at the right time, helps to release a pin 38 which has held the spring actuated pivoted dog D out of the path of the bunter 5 carried by the lay of the loom.

This occurs only whenthe transfer circuit is closed through the pole transfer switch B, wires MI and I42, timing switch A and transfer circuit dog solenoid 4| to activate solenoid II to pull against spring 39 to release pin 38 and thereby dog D.

Preferably this dog D and this bunter are made of such a shape and size and so positioned that in the preferred type of this device they allow a certain dwell for a longer time period than the usual interval between when a cradle is tipped to drop a full bobbin into giveways 9 and when the I head of the hammer of the transfer engages that bobbin, Fig. 19.

The loom E is of the well known type described I and includes a frame I, a lay U which is movable back and forth on or with a pivot shaft in a well known manner by a crank action from shaft II. There is a race I14, shuttle box II5, as well as a picker, picker sticks, harnesses and other well known parts which it is not necessary to describe.

by the engagement of its pin 82 with a slot 83 in one of the slides S. These slides, as shown, are numbered from left to right I, 2, 3, 4. Normally the cradle is in such a position that it holds the bottom full bobbin of a stack as in my Patent No.

2,259,343 of October 21, 1941, by a spring 99 as see Figs. 3, 6 and 7.

The turning of each cradle is controlled by one of the slides S, both being of well known construction, except that instead of having two noses such as shown in the Ryon Patent No. 1,030,748, to be engaged by a finger carried by the color indication shaft, each slide in my device needs only one nose N, although, it may have an extra nose in case the tension spring 99, which tends to lift it, to the position for receiving a full bobbin, should fail. to function for any reason.

100 is the bottom shaft which operates the pickers and in many looms revolves once for every two picks. in a well known manner. is the top shaft which revolves once for each pick and operates the lay. 90, 92, 93, 94 indicate the cells in the shuttle box I I controlled by means of a member 52 from the color indication indicated by I in a well known manner while 9| indicates the single shuttle box under the magazine. These parts are all well known in this type of automatic bobbin changing loom.

As shown, there are four key members K on shaft- C positioned between two slide depressing fingers 6, 6, fixed to shaft C, the relative position being shown in Figs. 12 to 16. There are two sets of magazine stacks, each with slides which are positioned from left. to right, and indicated by I, 2, 3, 4, while the keys K, which correspond with them are indicated by 14, l3, I2, I I. This arrangement is important because key It at the left controls slide 4 at the right. These are all so arranged that there cannot be more than one key member K in engagement with a fixed pin P of .the selective pole transferring switch 13 at the same time.

The, fingers 6, B should be so wide that they can go down between or move up between adjoining noses and N on adjoining slides as shown at 6 between 3 and 4 in Fig. 16.

There are two fingers 6, 6, each, as shown in Fig. 4, being fixed to shaft C and one having an arm [6 slidable in the bearing I'i', carried by a turning arm. I8 of lever R pivoted at its end to the link L, Fig. 11A.

The arrangement of fingers E, 6 should be such that only one finger 6 can be opposite a slide S l and only one key K can be opposite the fixed pin P at the same time. Each key and pin P are in the transfer electric circuit, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 21, and in that circuit is also the timing switch A which must be closed together with one pole of the multiple pole switch B to close the circuit and to pass current through the dog pulling solenoid 4|, which pulls the pin 38 against spring 39 which normally holds the dog down and the link L up against the force of dog lifting spring 31, Figs. 2, 18, 19.

Fig. 19A shows solenoid 4|, its armature so and flexible connection I39 to dog holding pin 38.

When this circuit is complete and the dog lifting spring 31, lifts the dog, it pulls down link L and causes color indication shaft C, together with whatever finger is opposite a slide, to come down and engage the nose of that slide, thereby dropping a full bobbin from the right stack cradle into the giveways at the bottom of the magazine. The arrangement of the keys is such that when a certain key is opposite the fixed contact, the corresponding finger from the color indication shaft is opposite the slide which controls the cradle for the same color such as red, but to comfpletely close the transfer electric circuit, which includes a timing switch A and a dog controlling solenoid 41, the multiple switch or pole switch, B must be closed through one of those keys and the timing switch A must alsobe closed.

The boxes shiftwhen the shuttle is on the box side of the loom between bottom and top centre, roughly between seven and eleven oclock, and the timing switchA is so set thatat everyother pick,

just before or just after the boxes have come to rest, it alsois closed whereby the transfer circuit through the dog controlling solenoid is complete.

The time interval of the movement of the color indication shaftandtherefore of the finger 6 from slide I to slide 2, is the same as it is from I to 4 and even if all four keys have been depressed, they will slip over the pin P, as see Fig. 17, until just before the boxes stop or immediately thereafter at which time the corresponding finger 6 is over the right nose. This nose is on the slide for the cradle and the stack holding the right full bobbin, the finger 6 working against the spring 99 of the slide immediately after the pin 38, controlling the dog, is pulled, allowing spring 31 which moves the dog controlling member G to lift the dog towards or into'setting position and to pull down on the. link L pivoted to and connecting arm l8 of rocking lever R with arm I63, Figs. 18

and 19, and also 2, 4, 5, and 26, Fig. 19.

To turn color shaft C, I provide an arm I 6 on shaft C connected by a link L and arm 18. Figs. 2, 5, to the dog carrier 350i operating assembly G. This assembly, as shown, is partof the transfer mechanism indicated generally by T, which includes a hammer arm with a hammer head 5| to engage a new bobbin in the giveways, the transfer mechanism being pivoted at 32 to a part of the frame of the loom, as shown in Fig. 2, and includes another arm 33 to which at 34 a carrier 35 for dog D is pivoted, Figs. 2, 18, 19. This dog D may be of suitable length and dog carrier 35 has a pin 36 which connects with a dog setting spring 31 which tends to pull down arm 163 and to lift the dog D up into position in front of the hunter 5 on the lay. This dog D and bunter 5 may both be of usual length.

Preferably there is a spring pusher [26. carried by arm i63 to engage the back of dog D.

7 There maybe a stop 16.4 tolimit the movement of dog D, when its mouth is lifted by setting spring 3? to be engaged by hunter 5 if the, bunter 5 is located above, or level with the dog carrier and dog pivot shaftM or the dogs mouth I66 may be deeper as shown in 19B to keep the dog undercontrol. This is to prevent the pressure of hunter 5 when the lay advances from merely moving the, mouth of the dogv upward, pivoting on the shaft as without forcing that shaft forward with arm 33 and thus not moving the transfer hammer arm 36 downward for transfer, as transfer T is moved pivotally on its pivot 32. 1

The feeler and slidepin switch circuit is shown in Fig. 20, .andincludes a feeler F which is grounded, with an arm which does the feeling and when exhaustion is indicated, closes the circuit completely through a wire it and solenoid 25 which affects itsv armature Eli and through hook member 52 moves the keys as shown in Figs. 6 and 8.

W is a. shipper switch through which the current from thetransformer passes. I This switch is usually closed.

After transfer, thespring 20b returns the head 3!, arms 3t and 33 and dog controllin means G to their normal position, shown in Figs. 2 and 3.8, with dog D. dropped; down by gravity.

There is a transferor dogpulling pin circuit shown inFig.- 19A, including a solenoid M with armature. it andflexible-connection #39 to pin 38, solenoid ti being fed from the source of electricity when switch W is closed but as wires lfl-l and Hit are interruptedby timing switch A', exceptat a'certain'predetermined time in the revolution of a shaft such "as mu, the circuit is ar ues itera e eve if :1 keys isin contact with a :P n P: I g V V -When one of the four keys of switch Bis closed and switch A is also temporarily closed, the solenoid, pulls a dog locking pin 38 which re- ;leases, a dog D as shown in Figs. 18, 19,19A. 'When released, arm I63 and link L turn the color indicating shaft C so that the finger 6 opposite thezparticular slide of the particular color indicated, pushes down on a nose N of that slide,

thereby dropping a full bobbin of that color stack into the giveways.

the active shuttle is on the box side or'ofi' magazine side of the loom or on every other pick betweenbottom, front and top centre.

.Asv shown in Fig. 22, the timing switch A has an arm 88 carried by a clamping collar 86 on a shaft I08, they being adjustable thereon by bolts 85, 85, and there being a double switch member 81, 89 carried by any part 84 of the loom frame E. .Thereby the exact timing of closing the dog. pulling circuit, shown in Fig. 21, can

be regulated.

There is a .dog pin 38 which is spring pressed by a .spring 39 to engage the back I68 of the dog .arm,33 of the transfer I in a position so that it normally locks the dog D in the non-setting position, Figs. 18, 19, 19Aand2.

Through a flexible connection I39 to the armature 48 of a dogpin pullin solenoid 4| in the same circuit witha slide pin switch B and with a timing switch A, when this dog pin 38 is pulled 'out, the dogsetting spring 31 causes the dog D to rise and if, at that time, the Jay is going forward between bottom and front centre, the dog D strikes under the bunter 5 and does not get into full setting position, Fig. 19. V

. .To prevent smashes, instead of an adjusting screw, such as shown at 26 in my previous patent, No. 2,418,324, I prefer to use a spring pusher I26 with a head, a shank and a spring I24, Figs. 18, 19, to engage the back of the dog, this spring actingto allow the link Lto do its work and to allow the resetting of the parts and to do their work with a certain elasticity.

' This pusher I26 also yieldswhen dog D strikes under the bunter.

An elastic pad might replace the spring pusher I26 or the dog D mightbe fixed to the do carrier member 35 especially if the switch A is so set that the dog is released as the lay ismoving back, Fig. 26.

' When spring 31 moves arm I63 of carrier 35 down to lift dog D, it depresses arm I63, pulls down link 'L and turns lever R and indication shaft C with its fingers 6, 6, from the full line position to the dottedline position shown in Fig. 6, and if a finger 6 is opposite to and above a nose N on a slide S, its cradle is turned and a full bobbin is dumped into the giveways. The device operates as illustrated in' the drawing.

For convenience, I will refer to the magazine *s'tacks, shuttles and bobbins. cradles and noses as well as slides as l', 2, 3, 4 from left to right.

I When the feeler F which should be at the front of the loom on the magazine side indicates near exhaustionof the bobbin with a certain color or kind, similar to those in stack No. 2, the feeler solenoid circuit, Fig. 20, is closed through solenoid '28 which ha's'an armature 'fill pressed outward bygravity and with a hook 62 at the'end which ordinarily rests back of the one of the keys K which is opposite pinjP. -'If that happens to be the key corresponding to No. 2 slide, the solenoid hookengages hump'63, pulls it and moves the key so that the ball in the key is out-of the normal groove 2| until it engages the setting groove 22, which preferably is somewhat deeper than 2|. It is frictionally, but to some extent, elastically held sothat as the bottom, frontend 25 of a key K slides over the rounded top '26 of a pin P, Fig; 17, it yields enough to make a sliding contact, but the key will still remain in what I will call the down or set position. 2

When the feeler switch is open, the armature and hook will go back to their normalposition shown by full lines in Fig. 6.] W V A If, when the key of No. 2 engages thepin, the boxes do not shift when the shuttle 'goesto the box side of the loom, as this member of the multiplepole switch is closed, there will be a transfer as soon as the timing switch is closed at the 4| which pulls out a dog holding pin 38 where;-

upon dog setting spring 37 starts to lift the dog D, but it may hit under the bunter 5 and many case, will not be effective until the next pick because the lay is so timed. that it will be going back from front center and will not come. forward again until the same shuttle has been picked from the box side back to the magazine side. 7

Link L however has been pulleddown by arm I63, turnin shaft C and through a finger 6 and nose N spills out a No. '2 bobbin which therefore has a full pick or perhaps va little more or less time to drop into and to get settled in the giveways. by the time of actual transfer by contact of hammer head 3| with the fresh bobbin on the next beat up.

If the timing switch is set at ten oclock, the rising dog may miss the bunter, but as the bunter is going back, the same thing happens and there is no transfer until the next pick.

In Figs. 18, 19, I show a resetting arrangement similar to one of those shown in my Patent No. 2,418,324. This includes a cam member and a resetting pin 8| on the dog control member G in such a position that when the dog goes up to engage the bunter or to be in position to engage the bunter, this pin engages the bottom part of the cam 80- and as the arm 33 of transfer T carries the member C and the dog forward on transfer, this causes the dog pin 38 to slide along the side face of the short arm 33 until it drops back of it, thus being reset. 7 r

The dog D and bunter 5 may be so made that when the dog is moved by the dog setting spring 31, it hits under-.the bunter and is not entirely set until the next pick when transfer is accomplished as explained.

To be sure that no current will pass through the dog pin pulling transfer circuit dog solenoid 4| except at exactly the right time, I provide a timing switch A which is shown as operable'with the bottom shaft with contacts 81, 89, which will However, if the timing switch A is set to act attach oclock or just at. or past front centrathe 'dog willstart up as the lay and bunterstart back so that the interval between the dropping of. a fully bobbin into the giveways may be less but the result is. otherwise the same.

To allow the contact of arm 88 of the timing switch A to be adjusted, the collar 8.6 can be moved on shaft Hill by bolts 35 and 85 sothat it can engage contacts 81 and 89 at the right time and for theright interval.

Bottom shaft I00. and timing switch A revolve every-two picks and switch A is set to be closed while the boxes are moving between bottom, front and top center with no shuttle under the magazine.

If the'feeler indicates near exhaustion inthe No. 2 shuttle and bobbin and has closed the feeler circuit so that switch B through a key l3 and pin P has closed, if this happens on the magazine side between bottom, front and top center, and that shuttle has then been picked to the box. side between top, back and bottom center, and then comes back, the transfer is complete because the electric transfer switch B is still closed, K engaging P, and if switch A is set for nine oclock or front center on the box side, that has completed the circuit and the dog pin 38 has been pulled thus turning color shaft C through link L, caus ing the nose N to move down the slide S and turning cradle 8 to drop the No. 2 bobbin into the giveways to wait for the shuttle to come back to the magazine side and to move forward to be transferred at front center on the next pick or forward. movement of the lay.

The sequence of operation. is that if and when 7 both switches 13 and A are closed near front centre, the dog lifting spring 3'! pulls down .on the arm I63 of dog carrier member 35, also on connecting link L, thereby turning color shaft C and moving a finger 6 from the full line position in Fig. 6 to the dotted line position, which action drops the bobbin out of the cradle by turning the cradle from its normal or usual position shown by the full lines in Fig. '7 to the discharging position shown by the dotted lines in Figs. 7 and 9.

Referring to Fig. 6, and Fig. 8, this motion of color indication shaft C moves the fingers 6 from the full line position shown in Fig. 6 to the full line position shown in Fig. 8, but as the corresponding key K2 shown in full lines in Figs. 6 and 8 is resting on the pin P, it must remain there until the normal groove 2i of shaft C moving counter-clockwise referring to Figs. 6, 8, and 11, reaches the ball 23, which engages it so that when shaft C turns back clockwise to its usual position, key K2 is carried back to the raised position of key Kl shown in Fig. 6.

The action of spring 3! therefore drops No. 2 bobbin out of its cradle and lifts the dog, all with No. 2 shuttle on the box side of the loom and finger 6 keeps the nose and slide depressed, while the dog holding pin 38 .is resting against theside of arm 33, Fig. 19, until transfer .on the next pick. When the lay again moves forward, the action of the hunter on the lay pushes dog D forward together with arm 33 and resetting pin 81 which engages cam 80. The dog controlling member G which is pivoted at 34 on arm 33 must turn clockwise, arm I63 moving up and arm 35 moving back while the dog holding pin '38 slips back along the side of arm 33 until it drops against its back [88 with the parts in the normal position, as shown in Fig. 18.

As shown in Fig. 24, the timing switch M may have-an adjustable arm 42 carried as by the shaft I00 and grounded therewith. arm 42- engaging a resilient contact 43 suitably insulatcdxand connecting by a wire [4| with, the insulated pin P. As the keys K of the switchB. are grounded, the arm 42 closes the circuit, between it-and 43 so that the current will pass from: ground through one of the keys of switch B into the, pin .1, thence through switch 44 and the dog pulling solenoid and thence through the switch W and back to the ground.

In place of the construction whereinthe color indication shaft has two grooves engageable by a spring pressed ball in each key, as shown in 25, each key 50 can engage the color indication shaft 51 with the frictional contact and the shaft instead .of having two grooves may have a single recess 54 into which the. head 55 of a spring latch 56 carried by the key can enter when a key is depressed to be in contact with a .pin P. When the key is returned to, normal position, the friction between it and shaft 51 can easily be made sufiicient to hold it there, while the spring of latch 56 keeps its head 55, inrecess 54 toallow the end of the key to slip easily over. the end of pin P. 58 like hump 63 is to be engaged by hook 52.

As shown in Fig. 26, the parts can be so adjusted that the dog controlling member 10 can form part of a dog H which is pivoted at 12 and has an arm 13 to which a. link L is pivoted while its other. arm 14 is so made in. relation to the arm 33 of the transfer member that while normally a dog holding pin 38 is back of such arm, when it is pulled out and the dog. lifting spring 1.5 pulls down on link L, lifting contact 'part. 15 of. the dog 0 that it will rise in front. of the hunter 5 and the pin will rest against side face of the transfer arm 33 as shown by the full lines, until the lay and bunter moves forward... as shown by the dotted lines which, cooperating. with the cam such as shown in Fig. 19, raises arm [3 and link L, thus resetting the color indication shaft and causing the pin 38 to. slip back along the.arm .3.3 in back of. it.

This construction can be operated by having the timing switch, set at around eleven o'clock or even later, so that the dog will not hit under the bunter but will rise in front of bunter 5, which is going back ready to be engaged at the next pick. This does away with the necessity of the bunter mechanism shown in Figs. 2, laand 19.

I claim: .j

1. In an automatic shuttle shifting and bobbin transfer loom .having a stationary frame, .color indicating devices, a movable lay carryingv a bunter, a transfer hammer pivoted on the frame including a hammer arm carrying'a head and-a dog a dog controlling member pivoted to the dog arm and av transfer hammer returning' pring,

a dog pivoted to such dog controlling member, spring. rneansto set the dog for transfer in. bunter engaging position, a spring pressed: dog pin. to hold the dog out of bunterengaging position, a transfer circuit dog solenoid, the dog holdin p being connected to. the transfer circuit dog solenoid to release the .dog and to allow it to-move to bunter engaging position, a bobbin magazine fixed to the frame with a plurality of bobbin supporting guideways, each guideway having a bobbin receiving and discharging cradle at the bottom operable by a slide having anose, aspring to raise the slide there being giveaways. from under the cradle to the bobbin transfer positionhnder the bobbin transfer hammer head, .a shuttle. box on the magazine side, and a shifting. shuttle'ibox on the other side with a plurality of cells, a color indication shaft axially movable by and part of the color indication devices synchronized with the shifting shuttle box and carrying fingers to engage the noses on the slides, the shaft being turnable by a link connecting it to the dog controlling member to move the selected slide and cause the corresponding cradle to release any bobbin therein, said shaft being axially slidable by the color indication mechanism, said cradle actuating slides, each including a spring to move a cradle to bobbin receiving position; a feeler electric circuit; an electrically operable bobbin exhaustion filling feeler at the front of the loom on the magazine side and a feeler solenoid both interposed in the feeler circuit; a multiple contact transfer circuit switch including a fixed contact and a plurality of spring held contact keys carrled by the color indication shaft, each key being turnable by the feeler solenoid, a transfer electric circuit the fixed contact and the keys being interposed in the transfer electric circuit; a timing switch in the transfer electric circuit to control the movements of the dog when the current is complete through the multiple contact transfer circuit switch and the timing switch to initiate movement of the dog into the path of the hunter and to move the color indication shaft to cause a finger to engage a nose of a slide to discharge a bobbin into the giveways.

' 2. In an automatic shuttle shifting and bobbin transfer loom having a stationary frame, color indicating devices, a movable lay carrying a hunter, a transfer hammer pivoted on the frame including a' hammer arm carrying a head and a dog arm, a dog controlling member pivoted to the dog arm and a transfer hammer returning spring, a dog pivoted to such dog controlling member, spring means to set the dog for transfer in bunter engaging position, a spring pressed dog pin to hold the dog out of bunter engaging position, a transfer circuit dog of solenoid the dog holding pin being connectedto the transfer circuit dog solenoid to release the dog and to allow it to move to bunter engaging position, a bobbin magazine fixed to the frame with a plurality'of bobbin supporting guideways, each guideway having a slide and a bobbin receiving and .discharging cradle at the bottom operable by the slide having a nose, a spring to raise the slide, there being giveways from under the cradle to the bobbin transfer position under the bobbin transfer hammer head, a shuttle box on the magazine side, and a shifting shuttle box on the other side with a plurality of cells, a color indication shaft axially movable by and part of the color indication devices synchronized with the shifting shuttle box and carrying fingers to engage the noses on the slides, the shaft being turnable by a link connecting it to the dog controlling member to move the selected slide and cause the corresponding cradle to release any bobbin therein, said shaft being axially slidable by the color indication mechanism, said cradle actuating slides, each including a spring, to move a cradle to bobbin receiving position; a feeler electric circuit, an electrically operable bobbin exhaustion filling feeler at the front of the loom on the magazine side and a feeler solenoid both interposed in the feeler circuit; a multiple contact transfer circuit switch including a fixed contact and a plurality of spring held contact keys carried by the color indication shaft between the slide moving fingers which are fixed to the color indication shaft, each key being turnable by the feeler solenoid, a transfer electric circuit the fixed contact and the keys being interposed in the transfer electric circuit; a timing switch in the transfer circuit to control the movements of the dog solenoid and the dog when the current is complete through the multiple contact transfer circuit switch and the timing switch by energizing the transfer circuit dog solenoid to move the dog holding pin and initiate movement of the dog into the path of the bunter and to move the link to turn the color indication shaft to cause a finger to engage a nose of a slide to discharge a bobbin into the giveways; and means to reset all the parts after transfer.

3. In a loom of the character described in claim 2, the color shaft having two ball grooves and each key having a spring pressed ball engageable with either groove to hold the key elastically in a definite position, each key having a hump engageable by a hook on the armature of the feeler solenoid.

4. In a loom of the character described in claim 2, the color shaft having a ball groove and each key having a spring pressed ball engageable with such groove to hold the key elastically in a definite position, each key having a hump engageable by a hook on the armature of the feeler solenoid.

5. In a loom of the character described in claim 2, the keys being arranged on the color indication shaft in the reverse order to the slides.

6. In a loom of the character described in 7 claim 2, a fixed resetting cam the dog controlling member being pivoted to one arm of the transfer, and also having an arm carrying a resetting pin, engageable with the fixed resetting cam as the bunter on the lay moves the dog controlling member and dog forward.

'7. In a loom of the character described as in claim 2, the timing switch being closed on every second pick.

8. In a loom of the character described in claim 2, the keys being arranged on the color indication shaft in the reverse order to the slides, a fixed resetting cam, a resetting pin, the dog controlling member beingpivoted to one arm of the transfer and also having an arm carrying the resetting pin engageable with the fixed resetting cam as the hunter on the lay moves the dog controlling member and dog forward, and the timing switch being closed on every second pick. 7

9. In a loom of the character described in claim 2, the keys being arranged on the color indication shaft in the reverse order to the slides between the fingers on the color indication shaft, a fixed resetting cam, a resetting pin, the dog controlling member being pivoted to one arm of the transfer and also having an arm carrying the resetting pin engageable with the fixed resetting cam as the hunter on the lay moves the dog controlling member and dog forward, and the timing switch being closed on every second pick.

10. In a loom of the character described in claim 2, the color indication shaft having two ball grooves and each key having a spring pressed ball engageable with either groove to hold the key elastically in a definite position, each key having a hump engageable by a hook on the armature of the feeler solenoid, the keys being arranged on the color indication shaft in the reverse order to the slides, a fixed resetting cam, a resetting pin the dog controlling member being pivoted to one arm of the transfer and also having an arm carrying the resetting pin engageable with the fixed resetting cam as the hunter on the lay moves the dog controlling member and dog forward, and the timing switch being closed on every second pick.

11. In a loom of the character described having a movable lay, a stationary frame, with color indicating devices including a color indication shaft axially movable thereby and turnable in the frame, bobbin transfer mechanism, a feeler electric circuit, a transfer electric circuit, electrically operative means in the transfer electric circuit to operate the bobbin transfer mechanism, such means including a, timing switch, and means to move such switch in synchronism with the lay; the combination of an electrically 0perable bobbin exhaustion filling feeler and a feeler solenoid, both interposed in the feeler circuit; a multiple contact transfer circuit switch including a fixed contact and a plurality of contact keys carried by and turnable on the color indication shaft to engage the fixed contact, both being in the transfer electric circuit; and a connection from the feeler solenoid to turn a key when the feeler electric circuit is closed by the feeler, thereby to engage the fixed contact when opposite thereto, whereby the transfer electric circuit is partly closed until the timing switch completes the closing to operate the bobbin transfer mechanism.

JOSEPH STUER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,353,323 Stuer July 11, 1944 2,365,362 Stuer Dec. 19, 1944 2,418,101 Stuer Mar. 25, 1947 

